104 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



a report that the trout had been rising 

 with astonishing freedom. No : there can- 

 not be any denying that we should have 

 had similar fortune if the weather had 

 been favourable. Trout never do rise 

 well in time of sultriness. That is one 

 of the few dogmas which no angler will 

 dispute. 



The remarkable thing was the triumph 

 of my friend's prediction about the flies. 

 His set not only lured more trout than 

 came to my own, which were of standard 

 sizes, but also they lured larger trout. 

 His fish ranged from 1^ Ib. to ^ Ib. ; mine 

 from f Ib. to J Ib. This brought to mind 

 a saying of Gould, gamekeeper at Bal- 

 birnie, who used to come to see to one's 

 comfort on Clatto Water, in Fife : " If ye 

 want big troot, ye maun use big flees." I 

 laughed at this at the time, though never 

 in the presence of Gould, who was a 

 famous character, commanding every- 

 body's respect ; but I am not laughing 

 now. As a general rule the trout flies 

 which succeed best are in all respects, 



